I walk the river that was a road and see:

a large cat in front of me?

panther or puma?

cougar?

I freeze.

The water flows where the cars would go,

and I stare, breath held, for a moment there.

but only the wind and the water move.

I walk on.

It is only a log,

a former tree.

how stories repeat, for us all to see.

a snake, a cat – all this and that.

“Look closer,”  Life sings to me.

I give thanks for big cats, deep shadows and logs.